Sade was formed in 1982, when members of Latin soul band Pride — Sade Adu, (real name Helen Folasade Adu - born 16 January 1959 in Ibadan, Nigeria) Stuart Matthewman and Paul Spencer Denman — together with Paul Cook formed a splinter group and began to write their own material. Sade made their debut in December 1982 at Ronnie Scott's Club in London, England, in support of Pride. Later, in 1983, Andrew Hale joined Sade. In 1984 Paul Cook left the band.
Sade Adu, the band's singer, is the daughter of a Nigerian father and an English mother. After her mother returned to England, Sade grew up on the North End of London. Developing a good singing voice in her teens, Sade worked part-time jobs in and outside of the music business. She listened to Ray Charles, Nina Simone, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, and Billie Holliday. Sade studied fashion design at St. Martin’s School of Art in London while also doing some modeling on the side.
Around 1980, Adu started singing harmony with a Latin funk group called Arriva. One of the more popular numbers that the group would perform was a Sade original co-written with bandmember Ray St. John, “Smooth Operator,” that would later become Sade’s first stateside hit. The following year Adu joined the eight-piece funk band Pride as a background singer. The band included future Sade band members guitarist/saxophonist Stuart Matthewman (a key player in ’90s urban soul singer Maxwell’s success) and bassist Paul Denman. The concept of the group was that there could shoot-offs. In essence, a few members within the main group Pride formed mini-groups that would be the opening act. Pride did a lot of shows around London, stirring up record company interest. Initially, the labels wanted to only sign Adu, while the group members wanted a deal for the whole band. After a year, the other band members told Adu, Matthewman, and Denman to go ahead and sign a deal. Adding keyboardist Andrew Hale, the group signed to the U.K. division of Epic Records.
In May 1983, Sade performed at Danceteria Club in New York, NY, United States. It was the first US Sade show. They received more attention from the media and record companies and separated finally. On 18 October 1983 Sade Adu signed with Epic Records. The rest of the band signed in 1984. All Sade albums were released through this label.
Their debut album, Diamond Life (with overall production by Robin Millar), went Top Ten in the U.K. in late 1984. January 1985 saw the album released on CBS’ Portrait label and by spring it went platinum off the strength of the Top Ten singles “Smooth Operator” and “Hang on to Your Love.” The second album, Promise (November 1985), featured “Never As Good As the First Time” and arguably her signature song, “The Sweetest Taboo,” which stayed on the U.S. pop charts for six months. Sade was so popular that some radio stations reinstated the ’70s practice of playing album tracks, adding “Is It a Crime” and “Tar Baby” to their play lists. In 1986, Sade won a Grammy for Best New Artist.
Sade’s third album was 1988’s Stronger Than Pride and featured their first number one soul single “Paradise,” “Nothing Can Come Between Us,” and “Keep Looking.” A new Sade album didn’t appear for four years. 1992’s Love Deluxe continued the unbroken streak of multi-platinum Sade albums, spinning off the hits “No Ordinary Love,” “Feel No Pain,” and “Pearls.” While the album’s producer Mike Pela, Matthewman, Denman, and Hale have gone on to other projects, the new millennium did spark a new scene for Sade. She issued Lovers Rock in fall 2000 and incoporated more mainstream elements than ever before. Debut single “By Your Side” was also a hit among radio and adult-contemporary listerners. The following summer, Sade embarked on their first tour in more than a decade, selling out countless dates across America. In early 2002, Sade celebrated their success of the tour by releasing their first ever live album and DVD, Lovers Live.
Sade made a great contribution to development of modern music. They dismantled many of the old music business ways and quite promptly became a fully functioning autonomous unit with a firm grip on every aspect of the recording process.
Sade is first and foremost a live act. Sade Adu said in one of her interviews: "When we play I know that the people love the music. I can feel it." Throughout their history, Sade have always attracted a diverse, multi-racial audience who are drawn by the band's open-minded approach to music. "And that's the best thing we've achieved."
Soldier of Love, Sade's first official studio album since the multi-platinum release of Lovers Rock in 2000, was released on 8th February, 2010.
Discography:
Studioalbums:
1984 - Diamond Life
1985 - Promise
1988 - Stronger Than Pride
1992 - Love Deluxe
2000 - Lovers Rock
2010 - Soldier of Love
Livealbums:
2002 - Lovers Live
2012 - Bring Me Home - Live 2011
Compilations:
1994 - The Best Of Sade
2011 - The Ultimate Collection
Bring Me Home
Sade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The last leaf has fallen
I have nowhere to turn now
Nor east nor west, north or south
And all that's ahead of me
Everything I know
I know nothing so
So bring me home
Put me on a plate with petals and a fire
And send me out to sea
Turn my angry sword against my heart
And let me free
The dawn holds
The heaviness of the night
I've heard the restless sighs and lover's lies
The brook, the beach and seen the devil's eyes
So bring me home
I've cried for the lives I've lost
Like a child in need of love
Oh and I've been so close but far away from God
My tears flow like a child's in need of love
I've cried the tears
So let the tide take me, I won't fight
I've cried the tears
The small step I need to take is a mountain
Stretched out like a lazy dog
Send me to slaughter
Lay me on the railway line, I'm far away from God
My tears flow like a child's in need of love
I've cried the tears
So build the fire, light the flame
Bring me home
Sade's song Bring Me Home is a soulful, melancholic reflection on a person who has reached the end of their journey and is seeking comfort, peace and redemption in a world filled with broken stones, restless sighs, and devil's eyes. The song starts by painting a picture of a desolate landscape with broken stones on the ground and the last leaf fallen. The singer is lost and has nowhere to turn to - not east, west, north nor south. The lyrics seem to indicate a sense of hopelessness and despair as everything that lies ahead is unknown and there is nothing left to hold on to. The only thing left is for the singer to be taken back home.
The chorus of the song shows the singer requesting to be put on a plate with petals and a fire and sent out to sea. The imagery here suggests a desire for a final journey, a release from the pain and suffering, and to be returned home to where the journey began. The singer requests that their sword be turned against their heart and let free, perhaps indicating a desire for peace and escape from the struggles of life.
The second verse talks about the dawn holding the heaviness of the night and the singer having seen and experienced it all - from brooks to beaches and devil's eyes. The desire to be taken back home is repeated, and the singer shares their feelings of loss and sense of being lost. The bridge speaks of the step needed to take is a mountain, and the singer requests to be sent to slaughter or laid on the railway line. Once again, the desire for peace is apparent, and the singer's tears flow like a child's in need of love, seeking comfort, and longing to go back home.
Line by Line Meaning
The ground is full of broken stones
I am surrounded by obstacles, problems and failures.
The last leaf has fallen
All hope is lost and the end is near.
I have nowhere to turn now
I am at a dead end and don't know where to go.
Nor east nor west
I have no direction or guidance.
North or south
I am lost and confused without a sense of direction.
And all that's ahead of me
I have no idea what the future holds for me.
And everything I know
Despite all my knowledge, I am still lost and hopeless.
I know nothing so
I feel ignorant and powerless.
So bring me home
I am pleading for safety, security and guidance.
Put me on a plate with petals and a fire
Make me feel special and valuable, like a cherished object.
And send me out to sea
Let me embark on a journey of self-discovery.
Turn my angry sword against my heart
Help me overcome my anger and resentment towards myself.
And let me free
Allow me to break free from my inner demons and struggles.
The dawn holds the heaviness of the night
The past still haunts me and weighs heavily on my mind.
I've heard the restless sighs and lovers lies
I am aware of the deceit and betrayal in the world.
The brook, the beach and seen the devil's eyes
I have experienced both the beauty and ugliness of life.
So bring me home
I am pleading for safety, security and guidance.
I've cried for the lives I've lost
I am grieving for the people and things that are no longer a part of my life.
Like a child in need of love
I am vulnerable and in need of support.
I've been so close but far away from god
I have been trying to find meaning and purpose in life, but feel distant from spirituality.
My tears flow like a child's in need of love
I am overcome with emotions and need nurturing.
So let the tide take me
I surrender control and allow the forces of nature to guide me.
I won't fight
I am willing to accept my fate without resistance.
I've cried the tears
My suffering is real and profound.
The small step I need to take is a mountain
My problems and challenges seem insurmountable.
Stretched out like a lazy dog
I am lethargic and unmotivated.
Send me to slaughter
I am willing to undergo hardship and pain to overcome my struggles.
Lay me on the railway line
I feel trapped and surrounded by danger.
I'm far away from god
I feel abandoned and disconnected from spirituality.
My tears flow like a child's in need of love
I am overcome with emotions and need nurturing.
I've cried the tears
My suffering is real and profound.
So build the fire and light the flame
I am calling for purification and renewal.
Bring me home
I am pleading for safety, security and guidance.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andrew Hale, Helen Adu, Stuart Matthewman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@trelewis3
The poetry. It's incredible.
@SketchyStudiosdarkflame
Most underrated song ever
@jt.8144
"UNDISCOVERED" you mean.
@TerrellRobertson-dt2ig
S 27th St
@animalfinatic9366
I love this song.
@ianmorton4136
Love this album. Sade's best !
@Ganning220
This song is a gem.
@TerrellRobertson-dt2ig
S 35th St
@DivineBeastVahMedoh
This song is really underrated, it’s got like a vibe that makes you stay on your toes.
@terrellrobertson2258
2009